The brothers of a hero Garda brutally murdered thirty years ago this week have spoken for the first time to describe their devastation after hearing that his killers will be freed 10 years early.

The family of Sgt PJ Morrisey broke their silence after it was revealed that thugs Michael McHugh and Noel Callan could be out of Portlaoise Prison by Christmas.

Having secured 25% remission, the killers could have a decade cut from their 40-year jail term.

And speaking for the firt time in 30 years, PJ’s heartbroken brothers Marty and George yesterday demanded Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald change the law to ensure those convicted of murdering a Garda serve their full sentence.

Unarmed PJ, 49, was killed after responding to a robbery on a labour exchange in Ardee, Co Louth on 27 June 1985.

The dedicated officer was actually off-duty but he was picked up in a patrol car and then pursued the raiders on foot after an accident.

Heartless McHugh shot the dad-of-four in the leg before standing over him to execute him with a bullet to his head.

Callan, from Castleblaney in Co Monaghan, was convicted of murder and lied under oath in court that he had played no part in the robbery.

Both were initially sentenced to be hung, but six months later then-President Patrick Hillery ordered that they should spend 40 years behind bars instead.

A landmark 2012 Supreme Court decision determined that Callan was entitled to one quarter remission, a ruling that also benefits McHugh, who hails from Crossmaglen in South Armagh.

But Marty, 76, from Belturbet in Co Cavan, slammed the ruling, saying: “These men were already shown mercy by having their death sentences commuted and we don’t agree with their early release.

“PJ died in service of the State and we believe his killers should serve every day of that 40 years as to my mind they have never shown remorse.

“Those men left a mother without her son, a wife without her husband, four children without a father and us without our brother.

“PJ was a wonderful human being and his killing was a callous act.”

PJ’s grief-stricken brother George, 78, said: “PJ’s loss was immeasurable, it is still as fresh as the day he died.

“Time stopped for PJ that day and in a sense it stopped for all the family- we were never a complete family again.

“I absolutely and entirely believe his killers should serve the full 40 years and call on the Justice Minister to change the law as soon as possible”.

He continued: “We now know his killers will be eligible for release in December. PJ made the supreme sacrifice and we don’t agree that these men should ever have been granted remission, the law needs to be changed.

“PJ’s widow Bernie has borne an unbearable burden of pure grief and loss over the past 30 years, successfully and single-handedly raising four wonderful children. She is our super heroine.”

Their brother Marty, a retired soldier, added: “We don’t agree with this ruling and want the law changed so that anyone convicted of capital murder should not get any reduction of their sentence.”